Graduation Day Has Come for USF Student-Athletes
December 09, 2011 | General
BullsVision: December Graduates
Photo Gallery: Graduation Reception
By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA - Years of hard work in the classroom and on the field have led up to a special time for USF's student-athletes.
An impressive group of 25 Bulls will trade their uniforms for caps and gowns to walk across the bright stage as graduates this weekend.
"USF has been fantastic," women's soccer player Kathy Drury said. "There are so many opportunities here, so many great people. It just really opened my eyes to everything, the world, athletics alone was just fantastic. It's been a great ride."
A degree is a crowning achievement for any student and athletes' paths to the fancy piece of paper is increasingly difficult. Regardless of how many games they've played, school work still needed to be done and a standard had to be met.
"At first it was hard, but throughout time it became easier and easier," said Jeremiah Warren, who is one of 12 USF football players graduating.
Amy Perkins has overseen the academic process for the Bulls and she's especially proud of student-athletes who might not have thought of graduation as a reality years ago.
"Often times they may be the first person in their family that's gone to school, so it's very rewarding," USF's associate director of athletics for student-athlete development said.
Here is a list of Bulls who will have diplomas in their hands this weekend:
NAME, SPORT - DEGREE
Tyson Butler, football - Communications
Jeff Hawkins, football - Interdisciplinary Social Sciences
Michael Lanaris, football - Management
Evan Landi, football - Communications
Kevin McCaskill, football - Interdisciplinary Social Sciences
Keith McCaskill, football - Interdisciplinary Social Sciences
Joel Miller, football - Communications
Darren Powe, football - Interdisciplinary Social Sciences
Mike Walsh, football - Business
Jeremiah Warren, football - Interdisciplinary Social Sciences
Quenton Washington, football - Communications
Jerrell Young, football - Communications
Stephanie Lawler, sailing - Environmental Science and Policy
Aubrey Perry, soccer - Marketing
Sebastian Thuriere, soccer - Interdisciplinary Social Sciences
Kathy Drury, soccer - Communications
Chelsea Klotz, soccer - Criminology
Nicole McClure, soccer - Communications
Valorie O'Brien, soccer - Physical Education
Brittany Pilon, soccer - Marketing
Erin Bly, softball - Interdisciplinary Social Sciences
Romain Deridder, tennis - Business
Pedro Carela, track and field, cross country - Interdisciplinary Social Sciences
Stephanie Duffy, track and field - Education
Marcus Hicks, track and field - Psychology
